It’s strange being in the hallways when everyone else is in class. I can hear muffled voices from classrooms as I pass by. How do I even start this conversation? What do I even say?
It’s not like I can just go walking up to one of the foremost monster hunters of this age and accuse him of … of what, exactly?
I don’t even know.
Everything about this world is only just
beginning to come into focus. Ever since I got here, I’ve started to get a better idea of what this monster hunting world really is. It’s big. Enormous. And dangerous. If the scarred and jaded teachers like Professors Helsing and Waldman are any indicator, this life is not for the feint of heart.
And yet, unlike them, when I spot Mason Dagher coming out of the headmaster’s office when I turn the corner, he appears unscathed by the brutality of this profession.
Maybe all his scars are hidden, or maybe, he somehow doesn’t have any at all.
Now that would be a weird question to ask Piers.
I stop short as soon as I see him. I didn’t want to run into him. It’s too late to hide, however, as the headmaster steps out after him and immediately spots me, too. He turns from Piers’ father to nod my way.
“Miss Black. Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”
I step out from around the corner.
“Well … sir …” I’ve never spoken to the headmaster before. I’m amazed he even knows my name—but then again, I do look a lot like my mother. At least, that’s what I’ve been told.
I try not to stare, but I can’t help seeing the similarities between Mason and his son, Piers. They have the same eyes, the same sharp jaw. Mason looks at me now with a grimace, and I know he recognizes me by the look in his eyes as he surveys me.
“I actually wanted to ask Mr. Dagher a few questions,” I say, my words spilling out.
Headmaster Novac raises his eyebrows.
“What would a student want to ask me?” Mason Dagher has the same tone that Piers does when he wants to act all high-and-mighty. He’s playing dumb, too. He knows who I am.
A phone rings in the office and the headmaster sighs. “Well, I must go, Mason. Young lady, if you’re too sick to go to class, you really should head to the infirmary,” he adds to me with a wink.
My stomach seizes up, sure I’ve been figured out. He doesn’t act on it though, just gives me another pointed look and slams the door shut behind him.
I’d relax, but I’m more on edge here alone with Mason.
Now it’s just me and Piers’ father alone in the hallway. He turns to walk away.
“Wait!” I call, running after him.
“I don’t have time,” he replies, still walking.
I still follow. “I wanted to ask you about my parents.” My footsteps echo on the stone floor. Normally, I practice keeping silent and sticking to the carpets, but I don’t care who hears me coming now. Least of all is the man I’m pressing for answers.
“What would I know about your parents?” He hesitates, his step faltering, but keeps moving.
I persist.
“You know who I am,” I snap. “I’m Avery Black. My parents were Samson and Riley Black. You were the last person to see them alive.”
His lips purse tight, but he still doesn’t stop moving. “So?”
“So, I want to know what happened. You were there. What happened?”
“I don’t remember much of that night,” Mason says. “But what I do remember … you wouldn’t want to know.”
“That’s the thing, I do want to know. The monster that did it, Mr. Dagher, what was it?”